Lock-washer.



G. F. BEERS.

LOOK WASHER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29, 1909.

961 ,204, Patented June 14,1910.

INVENTOR E}\ELI'1EE F-BE Era,

ATTORNEYS CHARLES F. BEERS, 0F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

LOCK-WASHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 14, 1910.

Application filed July 29 1909. Serial No. 510,327. 7

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. BEERS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Lock-Washers; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

The present invention relates, generally,

- to improvements in nut-locks; and, the present invention hasreference, more particularly, to a novel lock-washer for use with boltsand nuts of various kinds, and to the kind of lock washer which issplit, and is formed with oppositely projecting. spring members orretaining elements, the endpor tions of which provide holding spurs.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide a simplyconstructed and effectively operating lock-washer ofthe generalcharacter hereinafter set forth, which is split and is formed withoppositely projectlng spring-members or elements, the sides orcontacting surfacesof said lockwasher bein formed with a series ofraised portions and depressions, said raised portions and depressionsalternating with each other, and each raised portion. anddepressionformin a complete helix, or approxi mately so t at is, eachhelix beginning at a point in the inner circular mar inal edgeportionofone or both of the si e-faces of the spring-members of the washer, andten minatin at a point in the outer circular margina edge-portion-of thesaid side-face -or faces of the spring-members, directly opposite orapproximately opposite the oint ,of beginning ,of the helix,'whichhellcally 45 formedraised portions when they are brought in, contactwith .the face of that: part against, which -the lock-washer is rought,will at the slit or split-portion of the washer. present distinctgripping points, so as to cause the said raised portions to plow intothe surface and produce a positive holding or biting relation of thewasher with the surface of the nut I OI' other part against which thelock w asher may be arranged.

Consequently a tight and secure frictional engagement of. thelock-washer with the accom an in .drawin s in wh1ch,:'

parts a ainst which it is arranged is provided, or any tendency upon thepart of said washer to turn in the downward direction of the helicalcurves of the said raised portions and depressions would tend to tightenor screw up the nut, with which said lock-washer was used, upon itsbolt, while a tendency of the washer to turn in the opposite directionis overcome on account of what may be termed the upward direction of thehelical curves of the said raised portions and depressions.

A further object of this invention is to provide the novel constructionof lockwasher upon its interior periphery with a convexed surface,whereby sharp corners or projections are eliminated at the points wheresaid lock-washer must come in contact with the screw-threads of the boltwith which said lock-washer may be used, thus eliminating the danger ofcrushing, cuttin or otherw1se injuring the screw-threads. ,0 said'bolts,as so frequently occurs when using the ordinary lock-washer providedwith the straight interior periphery with its-sharp corners or projectinedges. Other ob ects of t is invention not at this time moreparticularly mentioned will be clearly evident from the followingdetailed description of the same.

My inventionconsists, therefore, in the novel lock-washer hereinaftermore particularly described, and then finally embodied in the clauses ofthe claims which are appended to and which form an essential part ofthis specification.

The invention is clearly illustrated in Figure l s a face View of the.novel conprinciples of the present invention. Fig.2 is an edge elevationof the same. Fig.8 1's structionyof lock-washer embodying the" atransverse section of the said lock-washer,- said section being taken online 3+3 n said Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side view of a portion of themetallic stock out of whichthe said novel construction of lock-washersare formed, thisview illustrating'more particularly the method ofpreparing said metallic" stock with the series of raised portions anddepressions, which, when said metallic stock is rolled or coiled upon a'mandrel'to form'f said lock-washers, assume the form of e'ccen tric orhelical raised portions and depressions upon the side or contactingsurfaces of said lock-washers. Fig. 5 is a similar View but showing adifferent method of preparing said metallic stock with a plurality ofraised portions and depressions preferably pyramidical in form.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above describedviews, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, thereference-character 1 indicates the complete novel form of lock-washerembodying the principles of my present invention, thesame beingpreferably made of spring-steel and being properly tempered. Thelock-washer is cut across one of its portions, as at 2, the end-membersformed extending laterally in opposite directions, so as to provide aspirally formed or twisted ring-like body having the free end-portions 3and 4 whereby a spiral washer is provided. The side faces or contactingsurfaces 5 and 6 of the lock-washer are provided with a series ofeccentrically disposed and helically formed raised portions 7 andcorresponding and intermediately disposed depressions 8. The arrangementof these raised portions 7 'and corresponding intermediately disposeddepressions 8, is such that each raised portion and each depressionforms a complete helix starting at the inner edge periphery, as at 9, ofsaid washer and terminating at the outer edge periphery, orapproximately so, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.- The saidraised portions or ridges thus formed will embed themselves in the faceof the nut and the face of the body against which the washer is placed,when the nut is tightly screwed home upon its bolt andagainstthe saidlock-washer; and, when said'raisedportions 7 are thus embedded in thenut and the other body with which they are brought in contact, a

more perfect anti-slipping or anti-turning relation of the parts will beproduced than is secured with the ordinary washer. The tendency ofeither the nut or lock-washer to turn is entirely overcome on account ofwhat may be termed the upward or outfiowing direction of the saidhelical curves of the raised portions 7 which are eccentric to the lineof direction or revolution of either the said lock-washer or nut. The'oints or spurs 10 and 11 which are formed 8 the termination of saidraised portions 7 at the free endportions 3 and 4 of said lock-washeralso tend to bite into the nut and other body with which said washer isbrought in contact, ther means and safe-guards for preventing theturning of either nut or washer. The inner peripheral edge of saidlock-washer is provided with a convexed formation 12 thus eliminatingsharp corners and edges which tend to catch in the screw-threads of thebolt upon which the washer may be used, where by the same are crushed,broken or otherthus affording still fur-- wise injured. The convexedformation 12 can only come in contact with the screwthreads of a bolt ata point midway between the side surfaces of said washer so that theperipheral edges of the side surfaces of said washer cannot engage withor come in contact injuriously with the screw-threads of a bolt uponwhich t-he said washer may be placed or arranged.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 5 of the drawings there isillustrated therein a construction of surface with which the faces ofsaid lock-washers may be provided. This construction comprises aplurality of raised portions of pyramidical formations l3 systematicallyarranged so as to provide alternating high and low points which aredisposed on lines forming complete helices, in themanner herein-abovestated, when the washer is formed; and, whereby a strong frictionalengagement of the side surfaces of said lock-washer may be obtained whenthe same is arranged against a nut and other body.

From the foregoing description of my invention it will be clearly seen,that I have provided a simply constructed and efliciently operatinglock-washer which is admirably adapted for use on railway rails,automobiles, presses and various kinds of machinery and vehicles whichare subject to vibration. The lock-washer can also be made in varioussizes so as tobe adapted for use with bolts and nuts of various kindsand sizes.

I claim 1 1. As a. new article of manufacture, a split-washer comprisinga ring-shaped body, said body' being provided upon one of its side faceswith raised portions and intermediate depressions, each raised portionand depression forming a complete helix having its end-point oppositeits starting point.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a split-washer comprising a spirallyformed ring-shaped body, said body being provided upon one of its sidefaces with raised portions and intermediate depressions, each raisedportion and depression forming a com lete helix havingits end-pointoppo-- site 1ts starting point.

3. As a new article ofmanufacture, a split-washer comprising aring-shaped body,

ripheral edge with a convex formation extending from one to the other ofits side faces, said body being further provided upon one of its sidefaces with raised portions and intermediate depressions, each raisedportion and depression forming a complete helix having its end-pointopposite its starting point.

said body being provided at its inner pe- 4;. As a new article ofmanufacture, a

split-washer comprising a spirally formed ring-shaped body provided withfree-end portions, said-body being provided at its inner peripheral edgewith a convex formation exten in from one to the other of its sidefaces, sai bod being further provided upon one of-its si e faces with rased portions and intermediate depressions, each raised portion anddepression forming a complete helix having its end-point opposite itsstarting point.

5. As a new article of manufacture, a split-washer comprising a spirallyformed rmg-shaped body rovided with free end portions, said body eingprovided at its inner peripheral edge with a convex formation extendingfrom one to the other of its side faces, saidbody being further providedupon one of'its side faces with ralsed portions and intermediatedepressions, each raised portion and depresslon forming a complete helixhaving its end point opposite its starting point, sald raised portionsand depressions forming spurs at the split portion of the washer.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a split-washer comprising a spirallyformed ring-shaped body provided with free endportions, said body beingfurther provided upon one of its side faces with raised portions andintermediate depressions, each raised portion and depresslon forming acomplete helix having its end point opposite its starting oint, saidraised portions and depressions orming spurs at the split portion of thewasher.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereuntoset my hand this 28th day of July, 1909.

CHARLES F. BEERS.

Witnesses:

FREDK H. W. FRAENTZEL, GEORGE D. RICHARDS.

